Support structure

ABSTRACT

SUPPORT STRUCTURE FOR MAGAZINES, AND THE LIKE, WHICH COMPRISES SIDE WALLS, END WALLS AND A PLURALITY OF FLOOR PANELS ALL HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED SO AS TO BE FOLDABLE BETWEEN A GENERALLY FLAT STORAGE AND/OR SHIPPING POSITION AND AN OPEN OR ERECTED POSITION READILY AND EASILY WHEREAT IT WILL SUPPORT MAGAZINES AND THE LIKE IN GENERALLY UPRIGHT ORIENTATION.

8. a; NEVAI SUPPORT STRUCTURE Filed June 15. 1970 Sept. 21, 1971 m '1 m: BELA a. NEVAI United States Patent 01 3,606,950 Patented Sept. 21, 1971 Rice 3,606,950 SUPPORT STRUCTURE Bela B. Nevai, Dobbs Ferry, N.Y., assignor to Nevco Wood Products Co., Inc. Filed June 15, 1970, Ser. No. 46,143 Int. Cl. A47f 3/14 US. Cl. 211-132 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates generally to support structures and, more particularly, to a structure for supporting magazines and the like.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a support structure particularly adapted for supporting magazines, and the like, in a generally upright orientatlon which is foldable between a fiat storage or shipping configuration and an open or erected use configuration quickly and easily.

It is another primary object of the present invention, in addition to the foregoing object, to provide such a support structure which is economical to manufacture and durable, efiicient and aesthetically appealing in use.

Another primary object of the present invention, in addition to each of the foregoing objects, is the provision of such a support structure wherein all of the component parts and elements are hingedly interconnected so that there are no loose or free parts to be assembled or which may be lost or misplaced.

The invention resides in the combination, construction, arrangement and disposition of the various component parts and elements incorporated in an improved support structure constructed in accordance with the principles of this invention. The present invention will be better understood and objects and important features other than those specifically enumerated above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following details and description, which when taken in conjunction with the annexed drawing describes, discloses, illustrates and shows a preferred embodiment or modification of the present invention and what is presently considered and believed to be the best mode of practicing the principles thereof. Other embodiments or modifications may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein, and such other embodiments or modifications are intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and spirit of the subjoined claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of a support structure constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention showing the struture in the folded, flat, storage or shipping orientation thereof;

FIG. 2 is a pictorial illustration similar to FIG. 1 showing the structure in the erected or open orientation thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional partial elevational view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 4 is an end elevational cross-sectional view taken along line 44 of FIG. 3.

With reference now to the drawing, there is shown and illustrated therein a support structure constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention particularly adapted for supporting magazines, and the like, and designated generally by the reference character 10.

The structure 10 may, as shown and illustrated, comprise a pair of opposed generally rectangular side walls or side wall portions 12 and 14; a pair of opposed end walls or end wall portions 16 and 18; a plurality of floor panels 20, 22, 24 and 26 and a pair of stop blocks or stop block portions 28 and 30 secured respectively to the end walls 16 and 18.

As'heretofore pointed out, the side walls 12 and 14 are preferaby of generally rectangular configuration and may be provided, centered longitudinally and disposed generally adjacent the upper edges thereof with generally elongated handle openings 32 and 34, respectively, for enabling ready and easy movement and transport of the structure 10, even when heavily loaded with magazines, and the like. Each of the end walls 16 and 18 may also comprise a generally rectangular portion 36 and 38, respectively, having a height substantially equal to the height of the side panels or walls 12 and 14 and may each be provided with a generally U-shaped downwardly extending recess 40 and 42, respectively, giving easy access to the interior of the structure 10. Further, each of the side walls 16 and 18 may be provided with a pair of downwardly and outwardly projecting bifurcated leg portions 44 and 46, respectively, integrally formed therewith. The side and end walls 12, 14, 16 and 18 may be serially joined, one to the next, along their respective side edges by means of hinged connections or hinge lines 48 disposed between the side wall 12 and the end wall 18, 50 disposed between the end wall 18 and the side wall 14, 52 disposed between the side wall 14 and the end wall 16 and 54 disposed between the end wall 16 and the side wall 12. The hinged lines 48, 50, 52 and 54 accordingly connect the side and end walls together while enabling relative rotational movement therebetween and accordingly folding and unfolding of the structure 10 between a fiat storage or shipping orientation as shown in FIG. 1 and an open or erected orientation as shown in FIG. 2. When in the folded orientation as shown in FIG. 1, the leg portions 44 and 46 are generally parallel and adjacent one another while when in the erected position, as shown in FIG. 2, the leg portions 44 and 46 are generally opposed and spaced apart for supporting the structure 10.

The floor panels 20, 22, 24 and 26 may be of generally rectangular configuration having a length substantially equal to the length of the side walls 12 and 14 and each being of a width which is preferably slightly greater than one-third the width of the end panels 16 and 18. The stop blocks 28 and 30 may also be of generally rectangular configuration and preferably have an upper surface or edge 56 which is flat and disposed slightly above the lower edges of the side walls 12 and 14. The floor panels 20 and 22 may be respectively hinged, along hinged lines 58 and 60, respectively, to the lower edges of the side panels 12 and 14 and the floor panels 24 and 26 may be secured, respectively, with the floor panels 20 and 22 along hinge lines 62 and 64 as more clearly shown in FIG. 4. With this combination of spacings and proportions, the floor panels 20, 22, 24 and 26 may be disposed with the panels 20 and 22 extending generally upwardly and inwardly of the side panels or walls 12 and 14, respectively, and with the floor panels 24 and 26 being disposed one on top of the other and together being supported by the stop blocks 28 and 30. Accordingly, a pair of channels of generally V-shaped configuration as indicated by the reference characters 66 and 68 may be formed generally adjacent each of the side walls 12 and 14, respectively, to aid in supporting magazines, and the like, in a generally upright position.

The various panels or walls 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and 26 maye be fabricated of substantially any desired material hingedly connected together along the various hinge lines heretofore pointed out. Preferably, however, for simplicity and economy of manufacture, as well as for providing strength, durability and aesthetic appeal, the various panels and walls may each comprise a generally flat or sheet-like generally rigid core finished or covered on both surfaces by means of a flexible fabric or, preferably, plastic film material which would, therefore, be readily and easily washable to provide for cleanliness while yet having an aesthetically appealing surface and texture eminently adapted for decoration by any of a plurality of well-known means. Further, the inner and outer skins formed of such plastic film or sheet materials may extend over the entire structure 10, unitarily, being heat sealed, for example, around each edge of the various walls and panels so as to firmly seal the cores therewithin and so that the heat sealing along the various hinge lines defines the hinge structure supporting the cores and walls or panels defined thereby in the desired orientations and positions.

The structure may be fabricated, for example, by laying each of the panel cores flat on a sheet or Web of plastic material, one adjacent the next, to define all of the fold lines and edges except, for example, one of the vertical fold lines 48, 50, 52 or 54 and then a second sheet or web of plastic material laid on top and heat sealed together. Finally, the fourth one of the fold lines 48, 50, 52 and 54, the one fold line which was not formed in the previous step, may be formed by folding the support structure, for example, to the position shown in FIG. 1 and adhesively or heat sealing the resultant joint together to complete the structure. It is believed readily apparent that the floor panels 20, 22, 24 and 26 may, during such fabrication be positioned generally in line with the respective side walls 12 and 14, being folded to the position illustrated only after or during final assembly. The stop blocks 28 and 30 may then be secured, if they are formed separately, in any convenient manner, as by adhesives, staples, and the like. The various core portions may comprise substantially any desired sheetlike material and may, for example, comprise pressed board, cardboard, boxboard, bristol board, plastic, metal, wood, binding board, or any such material, without limitation, depending substantially solely upon the desired durability, strength and cost. The outer covering or film layer may, for example, comprise a vinyl plastic, foam urethane, leatherette, oilcloth, fabric, or without limitation, and may, rather than being heat sealed together, be secured together along the various edges and hinge lines as by means of sewing, adhesive bonding, and the like.

While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in terms of an embodiment or modification which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention should not be deemed to be limited by the precise embodiment or modification herein described, disclosed, illustrated or shown, such other embodiments or modifications as may be suggested to those having the benefit of the teachings herein being intended to be reserved especially as they fall within the scope and breadth of the claims here appended.

What is claimed is:

1. Support structure comprising, in combination, a series of side and end walls alternately joined along generally parallel hinge lines so as to define a generally ringshaped quadrilateral cross-section and capable of being selectively positioned at right angles to one another to an open position and folded similarly along opposite corner hinge lines to a flat, closed position; a pair of stop blocks extending oppositely inwardly from each of said end walls generally adjacent the lower edge of said side walls and a plurality of floor panels hingedly joined along the lower edges of each of said side walls for movement between folded positions parallel and adjacent said side walls whereat said side and end walls may be folded and extended to positions projecting outwardly of said side walls whereatthey are supported by said stop blocks to define a support floor and maintain said side and end walls in their open position.

2. Support structure defined in claim 1 wherein said end walls extend downwardly beneath said side walls to define support feet or legs for the structure.

3. Structure defined in claim 2 wherein said side walls and said floor panels are of generally rectangular configuration, the end edges of said floor panels when in the extended position abutting said end walls to maintain them at right angles to said side walls.

4. Structure defined in claim 3 wherein there are provided two fioor panel members serially projecting from each side wall, each of said floor panel members being larger than one-third the width of said end walls and wherein the upper surfaces of said stop blocks are above the lower edges of said side walls so that when in the open position the ones of said floor panels adjacent said side walls extend angularly upwardly of the side wall lower edges with the remote ones of said floor panels overlapping and generally flat atop one another and said stop blocks to define a pair of generally V-shaped channels adjacent said side walls to aid in supporting magazines and the like generally upright.

5. Structure defined in claim 4 wherein said side walls, said end walls and said floor panels each comprise a generally rigid, sheet-like core covered on both sides by a flexible decorative film or sheet layer of material.

6. Structure defined in claim 5 wherein said cover layer extends over all of said side walls, end walls and floor panels, the portion thereof between said walls and panels defining the hinged connection therebetween.

7. Structure defined in claim 6 wherein said cover layer comprises a heat scalable, moisture impervious plastic film heat sealed around all edges of said cores to contain said cores within sealed pockets and to define the hinged connections therebetween.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,283,406 5/1942 Bacon 248174 2,571,301 10/1951 Slanhoif 248--152X 2,763,880 9/1956 Mulcahy 248X 3,300,166 1/1967 Wojciechowski 248174 3,346,317 10/1967 Peggs 248174X NILE C. BYERS, JR., Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

